May 28 (FT) Expanding his business empire, low profile tycoon Nandana Lokuwithana yesterday forayed into commercial banking, investing over Rs. 14 billion to buy a strategic voting 10% stake in Hatton National Bank (HNB). Lokuwithana owns Onyx Group Of Companies based in the UAE and SL with extensive interests in steel manufacturing (Lanwa), construction, real estate, and hospitality. He also owns Ferentino Tyre Corporation, a leading brand in Sri Lanka with growing exports. more..

May 28 (FT) Leading blue chip John Keells Holdings (JKH) announced the conclusion of what it described as a pivotal financial year 2024/25 with performance in line with its expectations but more importantly, setting the stage for higher growth. “The year under review has been a pivotal one for the Group, marked by bold investments coming to fruition with the successful launch of two of the Group’s most ambitious and largest investments to date – City of Dreams Sri Lanka and more..

May 28 (ST) Chief selector Upul Tharanga expressed serious concern over the lack of Test cricket and its detrimental impact on the nation’s Test specialists, while also outlining plans to revitalise SL’s struggling T20 format ahead of next year’s World Cup, which the country will co-host with India. The national side confronts a troubling Test schedule gap, with no fixtures planned for twelve months following their upcoming Bangladesh series, more..

May 28 (Island) Bankrupt SL, struggling to cope up with the deepening economic-political-social crisis, agreed, in late July 2024, to implement an IMF-led economic recovery programme, backed by EFF. Having self-declared the country insolvent in April 2022, political parties, represented in Parliament, had no alternative but to accept the IMF's dictates to overcome it. This was the 17th IMF bailout for SL and the third since the country brought the war against LTTE to a successful conclusion more..

May 28 (DM) Last week, Sri Lanka commemorated the servicemen and women who paid with their life and limb, defending the territorial integrity of this country, so that the next generations could live in peace. During the two-and-a-half decades of conflict, 28,619 military and police personnel died and another 40,000 suffered permanent disabilities. The War Heroes Day, which falls on May 19, should be a day of recollection—though it remains a day of division. more..

May 28 (Island) The law has finally caught up with some former ministers who acted with impunity while in power. They acted as if they thought they would never lose their hold on power. Otherwise, they would not have dared cut blatantly corrupt deals such as procuring fake cancer drugs to line their pockets. Politics is a game of snakes and ladders; it is full of unpredictable ups and downs. Those politicians who thought no end of themselves are now like what Sri Lankans derisively call more..

May 28 (CT) The recent resurgence of a video showing Filipino travel vlogger Joseph James Weber — better known as The Lost Joey — being physically assaulted in Weligama has reawakened long-simmering concerns about tourist safety in SL. Govt’s prompt response, through a statement by Ministry of Foreign Affairs, may have been well-timed and well-intentioned. But let’s not pretend that this is an isolated incident. Behind the official statements and promises of justice lies more..

May 28 (CT) Despite the Sri Lanka apparel industry’s substantial contribution to govt revenues, long-standing issues such as low wages, unsafe working conditions for women, and exploitation by manpower agencies continue to plague the sector. The recent closure of NEXT, a UK-based international fashion retailer’s main garment plant — a BOI-approved project that operated for over 30 years since 1994 more..

May 28 (TM) Indian authorities along the Kerala coast remain on high alert for an oil spill, pollution and debris following the capsizing of a Liberian-flagged container vessel, MSC ELSA 3, 38 nautical miles off the coast of Kochi on Saturday. India mobilised large Naval and Coast Guard forces to assist in rescuing the crew and contain any risk of pollution. The incident is a bleak reminder for Sri Lanka about past incidents which the island had to deal with. In the recent past, more..

May 28 (DM) The country learned with shock that the Kotelawala Defence University is to ban the entry of local medical students into that institution. Believe it or not, it is the govt led by none other than Comrade Anura Kumara Dissanayake and his merry band of JVPers who are behind the move. Now why oh why, is the local university named after a past premier deciding to ban aspiring SL medical students, out of this university? Old timers who were at the Galle Face Hotel years ago, more..

May 28 (TM) The Human Rights Commission of SL (HRCSL) has released guidelines to the SL Police on preventing custodial and encounter deaths, amidst 79 lives lost while under Police custody in the past five years. HRCSL Chairperson Justice L.T.B. Dehideniya said the General Guidelines and Recommendations No.1 of 2025 to SL Police on Preventing Custodial and Encounter Deaths were drafted in response more..

May 28 (CT) It appears that Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake was a reluctant participant at the 16th National War Heroes Commemoration event. The govt announced he would attend the event after strong criticism from sections of the opposition and social media. The printed invitations to the event did not contain the president’s name. The government explained this was due to a miscommunication and the president always intended to attend the commemoration. more..

May 28 (DM) University is an institution for academic development and the promotion of a critical learning environment. Hence, universities should be an exemplary place, way beyond the social norms. It’s a place where the cream of the students are identified in schools and nurtured to take responsible positions around the globe. Therefore, the Chancellors and the administrative bodies should not allow such places to be used by inhumane people for flashy words called bonding or socialising, more..

May 27 (EN) Sri Lanka will develop its scenic coastal drive in Colombo from Kollupitiya to Mount Lavinia with its Marine Nights: Awakening Colombo project, minister Nalinda Jayatissa said. “A project has been planned to develop the 7.4 km Marine Drive, from Kollupitiya Railway Station to Dehiwela, under the theme Marine Nights: Awakening Colombo,” he said. The project is aimed at enhancing the local economy, boosting the tourism industry and enhancing the tourist experience more..

May 27 (AD) The case filed against former Deputy Minister Sarana Gunawardena, who is accused of misappropriating over Rs. 12 million during the period leading up to the 2015 Prez Election, was taken up for hearing again today at the Colombo High Court. Former Deputy Minister Gunawardena is accused of misappropriating over Rs. 12 million allocated by a Chinese company for welfare activities of 35 families displaced in Attanagalla, following the launch of a water project. more..

May 27 (NW) Acting IGP Priyantha Weerasuriya has stated that the proposal submitted by MPs requesting personal security will be referred to the National Security Council for consideration. The announcement was made during a high-level discussion held at Parliament on May 23, chaired by Speaker Jagath Wickramaratne, and attended by opposition party leaders, Acting IGP, Director of the Ministerial Security Division, more..

May 27 (NW) NFF Leader Wimal Weerawansa has alleged that the Presidential Secretariat has issued a list of 40 politicians to be arrested by the Bribery Commission. Former minister Weerawansa revealed that the list contains names of politicians from the Rajapaksa and Ranil Wickremesinghe governments. He further said that a director of the Bribery Commission regularly visits the Presidential Secretariat to receive instructions on the course of action regarding the list. more..

May 27 (CT) SL Army Headquarters has announced the establishment of War Hero Welfare Units in every Army camp across the island, effective yesterday . These units—referred to as War Hero Coordination Units—have been set up under the direct supervision of the respective Commanding Officers of each camp. The initiative was launched on the instructions of the Commander of the Army, with the goal of providing a more comprehensive and streamlined approach to addressing more..

May 27 (FT) I don’t know who the woman was, but I remember her words exactly. She’d signed up for a bird walk as part of the Galle Literary Festival, a celebration held every year in the fort town on SL’s south coast. For most of our walk she’d seemed vaguely baffled. But then she’d looked through borrowed binoculars at the paddy-field marshes across the road. There, softened by mist and distance, was an extraordinary number of more..

May 27 (EN) Ambassador designate of Israel to Sri Lanka Reuven Javier Azar has met Sri Lanka speaker Jagath Wickramaratne at the parliament premises to discuss expanding cooperation, amidst its ongoing genocide against the Palestinians. “The discussion focused on expanding cooperation between Sri Lanka and Israel in key sectors, including tourism, agriculture, science, digital technology, trade and investment and medical fields,” the Parliament said in a statement. more..

May 27 (NW) Visiting New Zealand Deputy PM and Minister of Foreign Affairs Winston Peters met with Sri Lanka’s Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa at the Opposition Leader’s office in Colombo. Peters, accompanied by a senior delegation, engaged in discussions with Premadasa and several opposition lawmakers. Talks focused on bilateral cooperation, Indo-Pacific geostrategic issues, and shared challenges as trade-dependent island nations. During the meeting, Premadasa requested more..

May 27 (TM) SL’s apparel exports recorded a strong performance in April, with total exports rising by 15.14% compared to the same month last year, according to JAAF. This growth was driven by robust demand from key markets, including the US (up 6.83%), EU (excluding UK) (up 27.04%), and the UK (up 7.45%). Exports to other destinations also increased by 21.18%. Cumulatively, from January to April, total apparel exports reached $ 1.66 billion, reflecting a 12.4% increase over the same more..

May 27 (CT) SL Govt has officially responded to the resurgence of a video showing Filipino travel vlogger Joseph James Weber—known to his followers as The Lost Joey—being assaulted during a visit to Weligama in February 2024. The video, re-shared by Weber on Saturday, has quickly gained traction online. In it, the popular YouTuber is seen being attacked while filming in Weligama, a well-known surfing hotspot in the country’s south, frequented by both local and int'l travellers. more..

May 27 (NF) Cabinet has granted approval to recruit 15,073 individuals to fill existing vacancies across various sectors of the public service. The decision includes a significant intake in the education sector, with: 129 teachers to be recruited directly under the Ministry of Education, Higher Education, and Vocational Training, & 3,661 teachers for Sabaragamuwa Provincial Education Ministry, bringing the total number of new teaching more..

May 27 (TM) Election Commission (EC) has issued a final reminder to all political parties and independent groups to submit the names of their elected local Govt (LG) members along with mandatory female representatives by 12:00 midnight on 30 May, 2025. Despite the LG elections concluding over 3 weeks ago, several groups have yet to complete their member nominations, delaying preparations for the new term. The term is scheduled to commence on June 2, 2025, more..

May 27 (DM) During the media briefing to announce Cabinet decisions, Health and Media Minister Dr. Nalinda Jayastissa evaded answering a question whether he still regrets his criticism of the release of Rs. 5.5 million from the President’s Fund to late cinema icon Malani Fonseka, who once served as a parliamentarian. He said it was not appropriate for him to make any comments in this regard at this hour. “I do not intend to talk about it here,” he said. Prodded by the media whether more..

May 27 (CT) Govt yesterday issued a decisive ultimatum to SL Railways, demanding immediate action to address a surge in unscheduled train cancellations that have left thousands of commuters stranded and disrupted critical weekday travel across the island. “If the railway authorities fail to resolve this issue within the given timeframe, we will not hesitate to take stern action — even if it means grounding the entire service for 1 or 2 weeks. more..

May 27 (AD) Cabinet Spokesperson Minister Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa says the govt is closely monitoring the emergence of a new COVID-19 variant that is spreading in several countries worldwide, including neighbouring India. Minister assured that while there is currently no critical situation in Sri Lanka, precautionary measures have already been initiated, particularly at the airports. “There have been some reports in Singapore and India. We are paying close attention to that. more..

May 27 (NW) Tamil Progressive Alliance (TPA) Leader MP Mano Ganesan says Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake must blame himself for the current power struggle at Local Councils. MP Ganesan pointed out that the existing Local Govt Act is faulty, which was confirmed during the previous elections. He further said that Prez Dissanayake says parties that obtained the highest numbers should be allowed to form councils even if they are short of 50%, but the current law has no such provision. more..

May 27 (NW) Police have sought public support to find the gunman wanted in connection with the shooting incident reported on Sumithrarama Mawatha in Kotahena on 16 May 2025. The suspect had opened fire at the man and woman outside a house in the area, after which he had fled the scene. The victims sustained injuries in the incident. Investigations launched into the incident had led to the arrest of a suspect on charges of having aided the gunman to escape. more..

May 27 (DM) The Ambalangoda Police launched an investigation after a 12-year-old school student reportedly commited suicide. Grade 7 student was found dead at his home this morning in Ambalangoda. Police said that the student may have died by suicide after becoming distressed when his mother left home following a dispute with his father. However, investigations are underway to determine the exact cause of the death. This case follows a series of suicide reports across SL more..